Edwin Jaloszynski
Lt. Col. Edwin “Ed” Leon Jaloszynski, 96, passed away of natural causes (or old age as some would call it) to join his sweetheart, Ruth Guymon Jaloszynski, on what would have been her 93rd birthday, March 23, 2017. Ed and Ruth were married on December 28, 1946, in Dayton, Ohio. He was born on April 11, 1920, in a log cabin on his family’s homestead near Warroad, Minnesota. He was the youngest of six surviving children of John and Maryann (Kuligowska) Jaloszynski, turn of the century Polish immigrants.
Ed leaves behind a legacy of impact and is survived by his two children: John Jaloszynski and JoAnn Jaloszynski Hendershot (Ray); six grandchildren: Richard Hendershot (Jayna), Reed Hendershot (Maria), Maren McCrary (Joshua), Megan Guderian (Erik), Manda Bytheway (Trenton), and Marta Hendershot; and twenty-three great-grandchildren. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews who fondly remember their favorite uncle for teaching them to fish, mountain golf tournaments, and hosting many family reunions at “the ranch.”
He was a World War II and Korean War Veteran whose autobiography details the stories of his own and his brothers’ WWII experiences. He wrote “My Story” so that his posterity would know of his life as a child growing up in Minnesota; that his grandchildren would understand that the Great Depression never felt any different for his family because they had always been poor; that his great-grandchildren would appreciate that he served an honorable and full military career that spanned the world; that he met his future wife by drawing straws; and that this written record would document the vital thread of life: family.
After honorable discharges from the CCC, the US Army, Army Air Corps, and the Air Force, and after living and serving all over the world (backwoods of Minnesota, Panama, the South Pacific, Okinawa and Germany), Ed and Ruth decided to settle and retire in the beautiful city of Colorado Springs, CO. Ever since his days in Minnesota, Ed knew he needed to own “a piece of dirt” in this world. Jaloszynski Ranch is where he made that dream come true, where his true cowboy was most evident, and where he shared gems of wisdom for his family, not just in word but in deed. He taught his grandchildren that work is hard and necessary but playing after a hard day’s work is also important. He taught them how to build fences, shingle a roof, drive a truck and a tractor, dig up thistles and pull millions of weeds (that job is NEVER going to be done!); he also taught them how to fish, swing a golf club and that you should ALWAYS have dessert, but 2 small cookies is all you need. He taught his family to be fair, and to be generous, but that you have to earn your way. He surprised us too … when he played goalie on the frozen pond hockey games and was more of an athlete than he got credit for. He also taught us that people can and do change, that love is sometimes hard to show and then sometimes you just have to let go and let love lead the way … like the way his eyes lit up and his smile broadened with a hug from one of his great-grandchildren. He taught us to appreciate the people we love while we have them with us. In the 6 and a half years since her death, he often fondly recalled how much he loved and missed his beautiful Ruth—they had been married almost 64 years at the time of her death in 2010.
“Colonel” or Mr. “J” were some favorite names he was known by. He was also known for his love and support of the Boy Scouts of America. His reputation as a great Scouter, as well as his generosity in sharing “the ranch” with Scouts, among other Scouting accomplishments, was one of the reasons he earned the Silver Beaver award.
He loved his family, the Air Force (he picked out his casket years ago to be the color of “Air Force Blue”), Scouting, golfing with the “fearsome foursome,” fishing, the Broncos, the Rockies, BYU sports, reading, watching 60 Minutes, sharing stories, eating peaches, and grandma’s homemade pie.
A viewing will be held at 1PM prior to the funeral on Friday, March 31 at 2PM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Melissa Chapel building located at 2750 Melissa Dr. Colorado Springs, CO 80907. Interment will follow, as well as military honors, at a graveside service at Memorial Gardens Cemetery.